Kansas: New law overturns 10% Medicaid cut to facilities

Gov. Mark Parkinson (D) signed a bill that reverses a 10% Medicaid cut that took effect Jan. 1.

The law restores $57 million, or $300,000 per nursing home. During the first half of the year, nursing homes lost $21 for each patient per day. The new law reduces that figure to $10 to $12 per day, Cindy Luxem, chief executive officer of the Kansas Health Care Association, told The Hays Daily News.

A statewide sales tax will be used to reimburse Medicaid providers for their losses during the last six months. Still, Medicaid providers will not be reimbursed until approximately the end of the year because the federal government still has to approve the bill.

“We are thrilled to death that we were able to accomplish this with the budget situation the way it is,” Luxem said, according to The Hays news outlet.

More than 300 healthcare workers have complained to the Health and Human Services Department about employers infringing on their religious or conscience rights, a monthly total that increased nearly tenfold.